In a quiet first period, Heerenveen created the better chances, with Coutinho pulling off a good stop to deny Kenny Otigba from a smartly worked corner. The returning Alfred Finnbogason was then played through on goal, but lost control of the ball at the vital moment.

ADO Den Haag nearly took the lead early in the second half, but Kristoffer Nordfeldt made a great stop from Mike van Duinen with his foot, after parrying out a Ricky van Haaren free-kick.

With 19 minutes left the deadlock was broken by the home side, with Van Duinen beating Nordfeldt with a low shot which slid under the goalkeeper’s arm.

Heerenveen nearly equalised soon after as Marten De Roon’s cross was slid onto his own post by defender Danny Bakker just before it could reach Finnbogason.

In the second minute of injury time, Otigba volleyed in an excellent equaliser for Heerenveen, as he smashed the ball into the net on the turn to earn his side a point.

Late heartbreak for the hosts, who stay in the bottom three, while Heerenveen remain 7th.